Shared Ownership Schemes

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans his Department has to encourage the  (a) extension and  (b) take-up of shared ownership schemes for first-time buyers; and if he will make a statement.

Grant Shapps: We announced in the spending review almost £4.5 billion investment for affordable housing, which through a new delivery model is expected to deliver up to 155,000 new affordable homes over this spending period. Where appropriate, this will include provision of low cost home ownership. We will provide more details on these reforms shortly.

Housing: Construction

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that planning applications for new dwellings refused by local planning authorities are not approved on appeal on the basis of rolling five-year housing supply targets.

Greg Clark: Decision on planning appeals are the responsibility of planning inspectors. They make decisions based on all material circumstances. The current policy on planning for housing is set out in Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing. The policy requires local authorities to identify sufficient specific sites to deliver a five year supply of housing and treat applications favourably where there is less than a five-year supply of land in place.
	With the abolition of the regional strategies, local authorities will be able to determine their own local housing targets, against which the five-year land supply is determined.
	In the coalition agreement the Government stated that they will publish and present to Parliament a simple and consolidated national planning framework covering all forms of development. We will make an announcement on how we propose to take forward the national planning framework and the implications for specific areas of planning policy. This will include planning for housing policy.

Departmental Rail Travel

David Winnick: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions he has travelled  (a) first and  (b) standard class by train on official duties since 7 May 2010.

David Cameron: I travel making the most efficient and cost-effective arrangements, including by train. My travel arrangements are in accordance with the arrangements for official travel set out in chapter 10 of the 'Ministerial Code'. Most recently, I travelled by train to the Permanent Joint Head Headquarters in Northwood on Tuesday, 19 October 2010.

Saint Helena: Health Services

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  whether he plans to publish findings of the review of health care on Saint Helena;
	(2)  when he expects the review of health care on Saint Helena to be concluded.

Alan Duncan: St Helena Council commissioned an independent medical review of a specific incident reported in the  St Helena Independent on 11 June 2011. The St Helena Government issued a press release on 1 October, confirming that the review had been completed and shared with parties concerned. Its detailed content is confidential and cannot be made public unless the parties concerned choose to disclose it.
	St Helena Council also recommended the introduction of an external audit regime to monitor suitability of heath sector provision in St Helena. The St Helena Government has yet to implement the recommendation.

Sri Lanka: War Crimes

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the prospects for an independent investigation into allegations of war crimes in Sri Lanka.

Alistair Burt: We have consistently called for a credible, independent and transparent investigation into allegations of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in Sri Lanka. Unless there is an honest process of accountability for the past, these allegations will haunt the country for many years to come, and will hinder much needed reconciliation between the communities.
	The Government of Sri Lanka have established a 'Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission' to look at conflict issues in the period 2002 to May 2009. We welcomed the creation of this commission and have urged them to conduct its business in an independent, transparent and credible way. We are encouraging the Sri Lankan Government to promote engagement between the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission and the UN Panel of Experts established to advise the UN Secretary-General on the issue of accountability in Sri Lanka.

Departmental Manpower

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many officials his Department has appointed on fixed-term contracts since 7 May 2010.

Chris Grayling: Part month data are not available. The number of staff recruited on a fixed term appointment from 1 May 2010 to 30 September 2010 is 210.
	At 1 May 2010 the Department employed 119,099 members of staff. At 30 September 2010 the Department employed 114,985 members of staff.

Housing Benefit: Gateshead

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the Gateshead Metropolitan Council area are in receipt of housing benefit; and how many are  (a) not of working age,  (b) in work and  (c) not in work.

Steve Webb: As at July 2010, the Department estimates for Gateshead local authority:
	 (a) 7,480 Housing Benefit recipients are aged 65 or over. This equates to 35% of the total Housing Benefit caseload in Gateshead local authority.
	 (b) 2,100 non-passported recipients of Housing Benefit are in employment. This equates to 10% of the total Housing Benefit caseload in Gateshead local authority.
	 (c) 4,230 non-passported recipients of Housing Benefit and 15,400 passported recipients of Housing Benefit are not in employment.
	 Notes:
	1. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.
	2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	3. Housing Benefit figures exclude any Extended Payment cases. An Extended Payment is a payment that may be received for a further four weeks when they start working full time, work more hours or earn more money.
	4. SHBE is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data is available monthly from November 2008 and July 2010 is the latest available.
	5. Figures are at 10 July 2010.
	6. Data from SHBE incorporates the local authority changes from 1 April 2009.
	7. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	8. People claiming Housing Benefit not in receipt of a passported benefit are recorded as being in employment if their local authority has recorded employment income from either the main claimant, or partner of claimant (if applicable), in calculating the housing benefit award.
	9. Passported Status does not include recipients with unknown passported status.
	10. Age groups are based on the age on the count date (second Thursday in the month), of either:
	(a) the recipient if they are single, or
	(b) the elder of the recipient or partner if claiming as a couple

Remploy

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he had with  (a) trades union representatives and  (b) Remploy employees before making his announcement that Remploy's future was under consideration.

Maria Miller: As announced in the review of public bodies on 14 October, the status of Remploy Ltd as a non-departmental public body remains under consideration as part of a Government wide review of such bodies.
	The Minister for Disabled People and departmental officials recently met with trade union representatives to listen to their views on the future of Remploy. We will continue to work with and listen to the views of the trade unions, Remploy employees and all those who have a close interest in Remploy.

Social Security Benefits

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the monetary value of welfare payments paid to  (a) non-UK citizens of each country living in the UK,  (b) UK citizens living in each country in the European Economic Area and  (c) non-UK citizens of each country living in each non-EU country in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many recipients of such benefits there were in each such group in that period.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available. The information there is on benefit claimants resident overseas and the expenditure on them is as follows:
	Benefit expenditure paid outside the United Kingdom for 2009/10 is shown in the table.
	Expenditure for state pension paid abroad, at country level is published on the internet at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/sp_historical_ overseas_expenditure.xls
	The figures 2009-10 will be updated when available.
	Information relating to benefits paid to recipients abroad is available via the Tabulation Tool at:
	http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=tabtool
	
		
			  DWP benefit expenditure paid overseas in 2009-10 
			   £ million 
			 State pension 2,760 
			 Incapacity benefit 45 
			 Bereavement benefit 19 
			 Winter fuel payments 14 
			 Industrial injuries benefits 12 
			 Disability living allowance 11 
			 Statutory maternity pay 4 
			 Attendance allowance 2 
			 Maternity allowance 1 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest £1 million 2. All figures are consistent with expenditure information published on the internet at: www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/expenditure.asp  Source: DWP statistical and accounting data

Social Security Benefits: Widowed People

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether those paying tax at the higher rate will continue to be eligible for widowed parent's allowance in 2013.

Chris Grayling: There are no current plans to change eligibility to widowed parent's allowance for higher-rate taxpayers.

Unemployment: Young People

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce unemployment for 18 to 24 year olds.

Chris Grayling: The Government are committed to tackling youth unemployment. We will be introducing the new Work Programme in the summer of 2011. While the Work Programme will be an integrated package of support providing personalised help to support a wide range of customers, including young people, we have recognised that this in itself it will not be enough.
	On 4 October we launched two new measures; Work Clubs as a way of encouraging people who are out of work to exchange skills and share experiences; and Work Together as a way of developing work skills through volunteering. We also announced the new enterprise allowance which will support unemployed people who wish to move off benefits into self employment.
	We are continuing to develop further measures to encourage pre-employment training and work placements through Service Academies, and to provide greater insight into the world of work through work experience.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to improve its level of compliance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Andrew Robathan: A number of measures have been taken to improve the Ministry of Defence's performance in responding to requests for information (RFIs) under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI). The Second Permanent Secretary wrote earlier this year to all of MOD's business areas to highlight the problem and push for a concerted corporate effort at improvement. The Head of Corporate Information writes periodically to business units to provide an update on performance and encourage improvement. In addition, a number of steps are in hand to strengthen the central Freedom of Information team and to streamline the processes involved in handling RFIs. The central FOI team have also visited several business units to provide advice and guidance on FOI.

European Fighter Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment his Department has made of the safety of the  (a) Martin Baker Mk 16A and  (b) Martin Baker Mk 10B ejection seat.

Peter Luff: The safety and airworthiness of all systems on our aircraft types is continually assessed.
	On 27 July 2010 an issue was identified with surface cracks on Martin-Baker Mk10B ejection seats fitted in Hawk T1 aircraft. On 14 September 2010 an issue was identified with the harness system on Martin-Baker Mk16A seats fitted to Typhoon. In each case non-operationally essential flying was briefly suspended, while a full risk assessment of each issue was undertaken.
	Departmental officials worked closely with Martin-Baker and BAE Systems to design inspection processes and modifications that successfully addressed the issues identified. The Hawk T1 and Typhoon aircraft are now airworthy and available for operational tasking.

Written Questions: Government Responses

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to provide a substantive reply to  (a) question 17459, on Harrier and Tornado capability, tabled on 11 October 2010 for named day answer on 14 October and  (b) 17185, on harmony regulations, tabled on 8 October 2010 for named day answer on 12 October.

Peter Luff: I replied to the hon. Member's question, regarding Harrier and Tornado capability, on 18 October 2010,  Official Report, column 488W.
	The Minister for Defence Personnel Welfare and Veterans replied to the hon. Member's question, regarding harmony regulations, on 18 October 2010,  Official Report, column 483W.

Animal Welfare: Advertising

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department spent on  (a) print press,  (b) television,  (c) internet and  (d) poster material to raise awareness among the general public of the potential risk from illegal imports of products of animal origin in each of the last five years.

James Paice: Since October 2004, DEFRA has led communications targeted at black and minority ethnic (BME) communities where the rules have been particularly relevant. The target audiences have mainly been defined by the number of animal product seizures made from countries outside the EU, but other issues, such as the independent research carried out, have also been considered.
	The BME campaign has been a key strand of a wider personal food imports campaign, which targets members of the public travelling from GB to countries outside the EU who may bring back food items for personal use. UK Border Agency (UKBA) have also communicated wider messages around the restrictions at GB points of entry and departure in GB and overseas.
	Overall, we are looking to reduce the risk of contaminated food (in particular meat and dairy products as higher risk products) being brought into the UK and putting people, animals and agriculture at risk of disease and possibly sparking a national outbreak of, for example, foot and mouth disease or bird flu.
	Communication spend over the last five financial years on press, TV, internet and posters, is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			  Activity  Media total  Print  TV  Poster  Internet 
			 BME TV - - 15,000.00 - - 
			 BME Press Advertising - 42,000.00 - - - 
			 BME Posters and Leaflets - 9,945.00 - - - 
			 Total 2005-06 66,945.00 51,945.00 15,000.00 0.00 0.00 
			   
			 BME Outdoor - - - 51,180.00 - 
			 BME Press Advertising - 42,316.00 - - - 
			 BME Posters and Leaflets - 3,717.00 - - - 
			 Online Activity - - - - 198,000.00 
			 Total 2006-07 295,213.00 46,033.00 0.00 51,180.00 198,000.00 
			   
			 BME TV - - 26,320.00 - - 
			 BME Posters and Leaflets - 10,810.00 - - - 
			 BME Press Advertising - 20,125.00 - - - 
			 Illegal Food Imports TV Filler - - 90,993.00 - - 
			 Online - - - - 254,898.00 
			 Total 2007-08 403,146.00 30,935.00 117,313.00 0.00 254,898.00 
			   
			 BME TV - - 30,478.00 - - 
			 BME Press Advertising - 41,055.00 - - - 
			 BME Posters and Leaflets - 17,740.00 - - - 
			 BME Online - - - - 400.00 
			 Search activity - - - - 3,389.00 
			 Total 2008-09 93,062.00 58,795.00 30,478.00 0.00 3,789.00 
			   
			 BME TV - - 46,071.00 - - 
			 BME Press Advertising - 15,068.00 - - - 
			 BME Posters and Leaflets - 15,761.00 - - - 
			 Total 2009-10 76,900.00 30,829.00 46,071.00 0.00 0.00

Equine Infectious Anaemia

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the  (a) risk of importing and  (b) threat from (i) equine infectious anaemia and (ii) other exotic animal diseases into the UK.

James Paice: DEFRA continually monitors occurrence of major animal disease outbreaks worldwide as an early warning to assess the risk these events may pose to the UK. DEFRA assesses new disease incidents in EU member states, countries on the borders of the EU and the UK's third country trading partners. More generally, DEFRA monitors the disease situation worldwide with a view to identifying any significant incursion of disease to new areas of the world or longer term trends in levels on distribution of disease.
	When DEFRA becomes aware of a new animal disease outbreak in another country, we may carry out a preliminary outbreak assessment. Details of the outbreak assessments published since 2008 are available here:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/diseases/monitoring/poa.htm
	When DEFRA is officially notified of any new animal disease incident in an EU member state, a country on the border of the EU or one of the UK's third country trading partners, a more detailed qualitative risk analysis (QRA) is carried out. Details of the QRAs published since 2008 are available here:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/diseases/monitoring/riskassess.htm
	In March this year, DEFRA published a qualitative risk assessment-"Potential risk factors for the introduction of Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) to the United Kingdom from EU Member States" which concluded that there was a very low likelihood that EIA may be present and undetected in the UK equine population. Of the three confirmed EIA cases this year, two were found shortly after importation to the UK. The infected horse in the third case had been in the country for two years but investigations suggest that the risk of spread is low.

Breast Cancer: Research

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much  (a) the Medical Research Council and  (b) the National Institute for Health Research spent on breast cancer research in each year since 2007-08.

Simon Burns: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The MRC report funding for breast cancer research since 2007-08 of:
	
		
			  MRC spend 
			   £ million 
			 2007-08 6.342 
			 2008-09 5.862 
			 2009-10 5.154 
		
	
	Comparable information for the Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is not held centrally.
	The NIHR clinical research network is currently providing national health service research infrastructure support to 181 studies in breast cancer. Details can be found on the UK Clinical Research Network portfolio database at:
	http://public.ukcrn.org.uk/search
	The National Cancer Research Institute, a United Kingdom wider partnership between Government, charities and industry, makes cancer research information available online via the International Cancer Research Portfolio database at:
	www.cancerportfolio.org

Dental Services

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with local authorities on their role in ensuring that NHS dental services meet the needs of their users;
	(2)  what role health and wellbeing boards will have in ensuring that NHS dental services meet the needs of their users.

Simon Burns: Oral health needs assessments and the epidemiological surveys on which they are based are public health functions, which are normally led by consultants in dental public health employed by primary care trusts (PCTs). The White Paper 'Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS' refers to creation of a new public health service, to integrate and streamline existing health improvement. It also indicates that PCT responsibilities for local health improvement will transfer to local authorities, who will employ the Director of Public Health jointly appointed with the public health service. We will be publishing a White Paper on public health later this year, which will cover the transitional arrangements, required to implement these changes. Health and well-being boards within local authorities will be ideally placed to provide feedback on the quality and accessibility of national health service dental services in their areas.

Hospitals: Consultants

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been paid to NHS consultants in bonuses in each of the last five years.

Simon Burns: The total national health service spend in England for national clinical excellence and distinction awards for the last financial years for which figures are available is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Financial year  Spend (£ million) 
			 2006-07 178 
			 2007-08 190 
			 2008-09 180 
			 2009-10 202 
			 2010-11 n/a 
			  Notes:  1. The information above does not include information on local clinical excellence awards (employer based awards) which are paid by trusts. This information is not held centrally.  2. The information above does not include national clinical excellence awards that are paid from central funds to consultants holding a NHS contract and employed in the Department or arm's length bodies.  3. The reduction in expenditure in 2008-09 reflected a scrutiny exercise which identified a number of consultants who had retired without notifying the Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards (any excess payments in 2007-08 were to trusts only and those monies were available for patient care. No consultants received payment to which they were not entitled).  4. On 20 August 2010 the Secretary of State for Health announced a United Kingdom wide review of compensation levels, incentives and the Clinical Excellence and Distinction Award Schemes for NHS consultants. The review is being led by the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration (DDRB). The DDRB has been asked to submit recommendations to UK Ministers by July 2011.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the statement of 14 October 2010,  Official Report, columns 505-06, on public bodies reform, how many staff are employed by the General Social Care Council; how many such staff will be transferred to  (a) his Department and  (b) new bodies; how many such staff will be made redundant; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of redundancy payments for these staff.

Paul Burstow: The reforms to the General Social Care Council (GSCC) were announced in the report of the arm's length bodies review, published in July 2010. The GSCC's annual report and accounts for 2009-10 state they employ 239 staff. We do not expect any staff to transfer to the Department of Health.
	Cabinet Office guidance confirms that Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment (TUPE) like provisions will apply where GSCC staff are engaged in functions which are transferring to the Health Professions Council (HPC). Discussions are ongoing between GSCC and HPC about how the TUPE like principles will be applied to individuals. Until these details are determined, we are unable to estimate what the cost of any redundancies will be, to the public purse.
	Further information will be published in the impact assessment that will accompany the publication of the Health Bill.

Departmental Manpower

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) officials of her Department and  (b) external advisers are working on her Department's review of terrorism legislation.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 13 September 2010
	As my right hon. Friend the Homes Secretary announced to Parliament on 13 July 2010,  Official Report, columns 797-809, the review of counter-terrorism and security powers is being led by civil servants from the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism in my Department. It is being undertaken with the full involvement of the police, security and intelligence agencies, and other Government Departments including those in Scotland and Northern Ireland. There are six to seven full-time equivalent civil servants, the majority of whose time is being taken up working on the review. There are, of course, other civil servants and public servants (including in the police, security and intelligence agencies) who are contributing to the review but have not been included in the core group of civil servants working on the review.
	Lord MacDonald of River Glaven is providing independent oversight.

Circulator Pumps: Energy

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department plans to take steps to inform the public of the energy reductions and carbon savings consequent on the installation of energy efficiency circulators.

Gregory Barker: Information on the benefits of more energy efficient circulators is available to the public through the series of Briefing Notes, BNM C01 to 05, that can be downloaded from Market Transformation Programme's website. A Guidance Note on Commission Regulation 641/2009, which specifies minimum performance criteria for circulators, is also available from DEFRA and BIS. Additionally, there is a significant amount of information in the public domain on the benefits of energy efficient circulators that supports the industry's A to G energy labelling scheme. We have no plans to supplement this information, particularly as Commission Regulation 641 will be in force by 2013.

Departmental Sick Leave

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many days the his Department has lost to staff sickness in each year since his Department's inception; and what estimate he made of the cost to his Department of sickness absence in each such year.

Gregory Barker: DECC was created in October 2008. The Department encourages a culture where good attendance is expected and valued. However, it recognises that from time to time absences for medical reasons may be unavoidable. The Department aims to treat its staff who are ill with sympathy and fairness and where possible provide them with support which will enable them to recover their health and return to work.
	In the period October 2008-March 2009 the Department lost 1,325 days to sickness at an estimated cost of £295,475.
	In 2009-10 the Department lost 3,667 days to sickness at an estimated cost of £751,735.

Energy Bills

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will introduce measures to help fuel poor and vulnerable energy consumers in meeting energy bills to come into effect when the Warm Front scheme ends.

Gregory Barker: DECC will fund a smaller, targeted Warm Front programme for the next two years with a budget of £110 million in 2011-12 and £100 million in 2012-13. From 2013, support for heating and insulation for the most vulnerable consumers will be delivered through the Green Deal for energy efficiency and a new obligation on energy companies.
	In addition, from April 2011, energy suppliers will provide greater help with the financial costs of energy bills to more of the most vulnerable fuel poor households, through Social Price Support-with total support of £250 million in 2011-12 rising to £310 million in 2014-15.

Apprentices: Businesses

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to increase the number of apprenticeships offered by businesses.

John Hayes: Our intention is to boost the supply of genuine, high quality, employer-owned apprenticeship places, in particular at Level 3 and above which is why we have redirected £150 million funding to create 50,000 additional apprenticeship places in 2010-11.
	An advanced economy needs advanced skills, so we want to improve progression routes through apprenticeships into higher level skills and professional development. The coalition Government are committed to improving the quality of apprenticeships to make them better suited to the needs of employers and extend the opportunity they offer to more learners. Our future plans for apprenticeships will be set out in more detail in our skills strategy which we will publish this autumn.

Higher Education: Females

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of women studying in universities who would make repayments on student loans for 30 years or more after leaving higher education under the proposals in the Browne Review.

David Willetts: The Browne review proposes that student loan borrowers do not start to make repayments until their income rises above £21,000 per annum, at 9% of the excess, and with an interest rate rising to RPI plus 2.2% for higher-earning graduates. It proposes that no student loan borrower makes repayments after 30 years, because any outstanding sum at that date would be written off. Based on projections of graduate earnings, and time out of the work force, we estimate that, if the Browne proposals were implemented, 75% of women leaving university with a student loan of £30,000 would benefit from such a write-off. A further 5-10% will have their balance written off during the 30 years due to death or disability. 15-20% will repay fully within the 30-year period.

Higher Education: Sunderland

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many young people resident in Sunderland entered university or higher education in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2010.

David Willetts: In the 1997/98 academic year, there were 820 young (aged under 21) undergraduate entrants from Sunderland local authority to UK higher education institutions (universities and higher education colleges), excluding the Open University. In the 2008/09 academic year, the equivalent figure was 1,265.
	This is the latest available information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency. Figures for the 2009/10 academic year will become available from January 2011. Comparable local authority-level information on entrants to higher education courses at further education colleges is not available. Figures exclude the Open University due to inconsistencies in their coding of entrants across the time period specified. The Department has recently received updated parliamentary constituency data therefore figures may not match those previously published.

Mail Services: VAT

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what information his Department holds on the number of  (a) organisations which provide business mail services and  (b) such organisations which supply (i) services which are exempt from value added tax and (ii) only those services which are standard rated for value added tax purposes.

Edward Davey: I understand this question to refer to postal operators in the UK.
	At present there are around 51 licensed postal operators in the UK, including Royal Mail.
	VAT is a matter for the HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs. I am however advised that under current UK VAT legislative provisions, all postal services provided by Royal Mail, as the universal service provider, are treated as exempt, including stamped, bulk and express mail. All other postal service providers are, in principle, required to charge VAT at the standard rate. However, other postal operators who make use of Royal Mail's facilities to deliver post for the 'final mile', can take advantage of special VAT arrangements to treat this element-which accounts for a significant proportion of the onward charge to their customer-as a 'disbursement' and only charge and account for VAT on the remaining amount.
	Royal Mail's exemption from VAT for postal services in the UK is currently the subject of legislative amendment as part of the Finance Bill which is progressing through Parliament. This follows a European Court of Justice decision which confirmed that Royal Mail, as the sole operator providing the universal postal service, is the only postal body in the UK eligible to exempt postal services from VAT. However, it also ruled that exemption does not apply to all Royal Mail's postal services and as such, those services which are either individually negotiated or not subject to price and regulatory control (such as Parcelforce and Mailmedia) will become liable to VAT at the standard rate. These changes are due to come into effect from 31 January 2011.

Manufacturing Industries: West Midlands

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to provide support for manufacturing industries in the West Midlands.

Mark Prisk: The Government are supporting the manufacturing industry, both nationally and in the West Midlands, by creating a stable business environment that will give businesses the confidence they need to plan and invest for the future. We are doing this by creating a more supportive tax environment, freeing up credit through the banking system, reducing regulation, maximising the flexibility of the labour market and focusing on training and apprenticeships. For example, we have already redirected £150 million to create up to 50,000 extra apprenticeships, which will be workplace-based and employer-led.
	We are also restructuring the delivery landscape for economic development by replacing the regional development agencies (RDAs) with local enterprise partnerships which better reflect the natural economic geography of the areas that they serve. This will ensure a focussed targeted delivery of policy/services in areas where it can have the most benefit, and believe this approach will provide the best support for manufacturing in the West Midlands by creating the conditions for local businesses to grow.
	In the longer term, we are keen to ensure that we provide the right conditions in which manufacturing can grow, recognising the vital role it plays in the UK economy. To this end, later in the year we will be launching a new approach to manufacturing that will highlight key ambitions, identify growth opportunities and set out a new framework of actions for both Government and industry.

Women and Work Sector Pathways Initiative: Financial Support

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how much matched  (a) financial support and  (b) non-financial support has been provided by employers in (i) City of Durham constituency and (ii) the North East to the Women and Work Sector Pathways Initiative;
	(2)  what proportion of women participating in the Women and Work Sector Pathways Initiative have achieved a qualification associated with participation  (a) nationally,  (b) from City of Durham constituency and  (c) the North East;
	(3)  how many employers in City of Durham constituency have taken part in the Women and Work Sector Pathways Initiative since its inception;
	(4)  how many employers in  (a) City of Durham constituency,  (b) the North East and  (c) England have nominated more than one woman employee to participate in the Women and Work Sector Pathways Initiative.

John Hayes: Information on the financial and non-financial support provided by employers for the Women and Work programme is retained for each project but is not collated at a constituency or regional level.
	We estimate that around 4% of all learners that completed training nationally received a qualification through their participation in the programme. There is no breakdown at constituency or regional level.
	Constituency level data is not available for the number of employers participating in Women and Work programme. Since 2006 approximately 1,098 employers across England have participated in the programme of which 45% (495 employers) have put through more than one woman. For 241 of the employers out of the 495 total no region is specified. Based on the 254 employers for which the regional location is known there were 12 employers based in the North East of England.

Academies: Ealing

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will assess the effect of an increase in the number of academy schools on the availability to other schools in the same areas of  (a) educational psychology,  (b) educational welfare,  (c) behavioural support services,  (d) school meals and free school meals assessment,  (e) 14 to 16 practical learning options and (f) museum and library services.

Tim Loughton: Discussions are taking place with representatives of local authorities and academies to ensure that the funding available for education from 2011-12 onwards properly reflects the pressures schools will face.
	Local areas are expected to decide how best to use their resources so that local priorities in terms of the needs of children and young people are met in the most coherent, efficient and cost effective way. Greater numbers of academy schools does not of itself force any reduction of education and children's services.
	I should add that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education announced on 8 July 2010 the formation of a ministerial advisory group on the role of the local authority in relation to education and children's services. This group includes representatives of the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Children's Services and will provide a forum in which to explore a range of issues relating to the strategic role of local authorities and their working relationship with different types of school as the number of academies increases. The ministerial group is pursuing more detailed aspects of its work through a number of task and finish groups, one of which covers providing for vulnerable children.

School Leaving: Advisory Services

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what recent assessment for bench-marking purposes he has made of the adequacy of the provision of careers advice for school leavers in England compared to that in  (a) the rest of the UK and  (b) other EU countries;
	(2)  what his policy is on the provision of careers advice for those leaving compulsory education.

John Hayes: The Government are currently reviewing the provision of careers guidance to young people and adults, as well as the provision of wider information, advice and guidance that helps young people to navigate the choices that they face in order to achieve success in work and life. Evidence suggests that Connexions services are not consistently providing high quality careers guidance to young people. In the most recent OECD comparisons of the proportion of 15 to 19-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), the UK had the fifth highest rate of the 27 countries that supplied data. Relevant evidence from careers services both in the UK and worldwide will help to inform the future development of careers guidance services.

Courts: Trials and Sentencing

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many of those remanded in custody awaiting sentence at the last HM Courts Service monthly census date were  (a) awaiting sentence at the Crown Court,  (b) awaiting sentence at a magistrates' court,  (c) had been arrested on a no bail warrant and  (d) were in custody for other reasons;
	(2)  how many of those remanded in custody and not yet tried at the last HM Courts Service monthly census date were  (a) awaiting trial at the Crown Court,  (b) awaiting trial at a magistrates' court,  (c) had appeared in court but not yet entered a plea,  (d) had been charged but not yet appeared in court,  (e) had been arrested on a no bail warrant and  (f) were in custody for other reasons.

Crispin Blunt: Data is published monthly on the number of offenders in custody on remand untried and the number on remand convicted but unsentenced. The most recent data for August 2010 was published on the Ministry of Justice website in "Population in custody monthly tables August 2010 England and Wales"-Table 1 and is available through the following link:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/populationincustody.htm
	The Court Proceedings Database held by the Ministry of Justice holds information on defendants proceeded against for criminal offences in England and Wales. These data includes information on the age and sex of the defendants, the court where proceedings took place as well as the outcome for specific offences including sentencing information. The Court Proceedings Database does not hold information on whether the defendants proceeded against were on bail at the time of committing their offence, or the criminal history of defendants. Circumstances leading to an arrest and charge of an offender are not recorded on the database and could only be provided through manual checking of court and prisoner records at disproportionate cost.
	As at 31 August 2010 there were a total of 13,028 remand offenders in prison of which 8,802 were untried and 4,226 were convicted but unsentenced.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Management Companies: Fees and Charges

Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will bring forward proposals to regulate the payment of referral fees to claims management companies by solicitors.

Jonathan Djanogly: The payment of referral fees is already subject to regulation. The Ministry of Justice is responsible for the direct regulation of claims management companies, who are subject to part 2 of the Compensation Act 2006. Solicitors, who are regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA), must in relation to referral fees comply with the Solicitors' Code of Conduct 2007 (rule 9).
	The Government are aware of concerns over referral fees and notes that this issue has been considered by Lord Young in his report 'Common Sense, Common Safety' (published on 15 October 2010) and by Lord Jackson in his report 'Review of Civil Litigation Costs' (published 14 January 2010). The Government welcome Lord Young's report and in regard to Lord Jackson's report will be issuing a consultation paper later this autumn.
	The Legal Services Board, as the oversight regulator of the legal profession in England and Wales, has launched a consultation titled 'Referral Fees, Referral Arrangements and Fee Sharing'. The consultation ends on 22 December 2010. The conclusions of this consultation will be carefully considered by the SRA and will help to inform the Government's position on referral fees.

Prisons: Wales

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects to announce the prospective sites in North Wales for a prison.

Crispin Blunt: In October 2009, the Ministry of Justice began a site search for sites suitable for 1,500 place prisons in the priority areas of North West England, North Wales, West Yorkshire and Greater London as part of the new prisons programme. A number of sites in North Wales have been put forward.
	The Ministry of Justice is committed to publishing a Green Paper on Rehabilitation and Sentencing, consulting on our longer term plans for offender management. As a consequence the Ministry will re-evaluate its strategy for prison capacity.